FIAT-IFTA Celebrating UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Day – 17 October

FIAT-IFTA is organizing a special event to celebrate Intangible Cultural Heritage Day on 17 October. The celebration will take place on 26 October In Charlotte -USA, in conjunction with the 18th FIAT-IFTA General Assembly and the 55th FIAT-IFTA International Council of Direction Meeting. It will also mark the launch of a new long-term initiative dedicated to recognizing, documenting, and promoting the diversity of intangible funeral culture around the world.

Beginning this year, FIAT-IFTA will establish an annual tradition of highlighting different elements of funeral culture from communities across the globe. Each year, the initiative will explore and share cultural practices, rituals, beliefs, customs, and knowledge connected to death, mourning, remembrance, and funerary traditions. The initiative will begin with the presentation of a video based on FIAT-IFTA’s most recent Heritage Report, showcasing the diversity of funeral heritage and the importance of preserving traditions passed down through generations.
The main objective is to raise awareness of intangible funeral culture and its importance to local communities and cultural identity. Funeral traditions reflect the history, values, beliefs, and identity of communities, while providing meaningful ways to honour the deceased, express grief, and support those who mourn.
Many of these traditions are changing or disappearing as societies evolve. Globalization, migration, technological development, and changing social values can all affect the way cultural practices are maintained and transmitted. Documenting and sharing these traditions can help ensure that this valuable cultural knowledge is recognized, respected, and preserved for future generations.
Through this annual celebration, FIAT-IFTA aims to create a platform for cultural exchange, education, awareness, and preservation, encouraging greater understanding and respect for the many ways communities around the world respond to death, loss, and remembrance.
The project reflects FIAT-IFTA’s commitment to recognizing funeral culture as an important part of living intangible cultural heritage. It focuses not only on preserving traditions, but also on recognizing the communities and individuals who continue to practice, transmit, and adapt them.
The launch of this project will be the first step toward establishing an annual global celebration of intangible funeral heritage within the broader scope of Intangible Cultural Heritage Day celebrated on 17 October. Each year will provide a new opportunity to discover, document, share, and celebrate the diverse cultural expressions surrounding death, mourning, remembrance, and commemoration.

Programme

26 October 2026 – International Council of Directors Meeting

• Presentation by Mrs Yuanyuan, Chair of the Committee
• Mrs Yuanyuan, Chair of the Committee, will deliver a presentation outlining the Committee’s activities, recent developments, and forthcoming initiatives.
  

27 October 2026 – General Assembly

• Presentation of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Celebration Project
• Presentation of the project for the Celebration of Intangible Cultural Heritage, including an overview of its objectives, planned activities, and significance for the preservation and promotion of funeral and cultural traditions.
• Presentation of Video Based on the Latest FIAT-IFTA Report
• Screening and presentation of a video highlighting key findings, activities, and outcomes presented in the latest FIAT-IFTA report.
  

Text as provided by the organiser(s).